POP Century~Unofficially the Grooviest FAQ Thread #7~Sept 2012

[Kat016]

Oops posted on the wrong reply... lol

 

[Kat016]

(I posted this on another thread - thought I would add it here)

We stayed at Pop this past Memorial Day weekend. This was our 5th time staying at Pop.

I have to say that my family thought the food court was much worse than any of our previous trips. We didn't mind trying some of the new food items, we mainly have breakfast anyway. The staff were not used to the new menu and had to keep checking what they were plating, which is OK and it will get better once they are used to the new items. However, while I don't need you to be all perky when serving, the staff were borderline rude, apathetic and certainly disinterested. I tried asking them how they were doing, were they getting used the new menu etc. and barely got a response. At the end of our stay I made a joking comment to my family that maybe they had taken all the good and happy people over to AoA.

The cashiers were slower than usual and I chalked that down to the new menu items and they were not used to finding the items on the register screen, it was frustrating to us as a customers. I also thought many of the staff seemed like they needed more training. For example we were in line and the cashier got the orders of the two people in front of us and our order wrong and she had to cancel the transactions and complete them again for each customer. She wasn't applying the dining plan correctly and charging the guests for some of the items that should have been covered. It took over 15 minutes to process the three sets of customers and our food was cold by the time we were finished. This was during a slower time as it was a late lunch on arrival day.

Having worked and managed customer service operations to me this points to a bigger problem with the catering management, if all your staff are unhappy, morale is bad, then something is wrong with the management, management style and/or training.

Our room was good as usual, no issues with housekeeping etc. we were left extra towels and plenty of supplies, the room was serviced each day. We did have a problem with our phone. The message light was continually on and each time we checked it said no messages. I called to report it but it didn't get fixed, it really didn't bother us anyway. We were in the 70's facing the lake, nice and quiet.

Pool and the petals bar were great as usual.

We are going back in September. By this time the staff should all be used to the new menu and have worked through those issues. We'll see if the morale of the catering staff is any better.

We're going in October and we were planning breakfasts at their food court every morning. This is not sounding very promising at all.

 

[smitch425]

I am also concerned about breakfast at POP. When I eat sausage and bacon, I want it from pigs, not birds.

 

[KELLY]

I'm getting a little concerned about pop's food court. We are on the QSDP so we tend to eat one meal here a day. Usually dinner. My kids don't want nachos with potato chips. They want a real burger bun with there burger not fish bread.

I'm seriously thinking we may upgrade to a moderate at this point. DH won't stay at the all stars.

 

[KELLY]

I'm getting a little concerned about pop's food court. We are on the QSDP so we tend to eat one meal here a day. Usually dinner. My kids don't want nachos with potato chips. They want a real burger bun with there burger not fish bread.

I'm seriously thinking we may upgrade to a moderate at this point. DH won't stay at the all stars.

Well after pricing that out. We are staying put. Yikes 850.00 more. I did notice there is quite a few of my favs still at pop so I think we will survive. Chicken Pam, turkey ciabatta and the medetraraian flat bread. MY girls will be disappointed in the nachos. We usually get them for a snack at least twice. We prefer the QSDP so we will figure it out.

 

[KELLY]

I am also concerned about breakfast at POP. When I eat sausage and bacon, I want it from pigs, not birds.

No more Breakfast pizza. That is the one I'm over.

 

[WishingMom]

just got back from a week at POP. I was super excited to try the new food from the menu, but I hate to say the food was TERRIBLE!!! some of it was just plain inedible. I have pics in my dining review:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3122398
We walked over to AOA to eat several times and their food was MUCH better! loved their food court. Highly recommend going to AOA for your dining needs!

as for the room, we had a preferred pool room and I requested ground level close to transportation. I got the 3rd room in on building 4, ground floor. Yes, I heard kids playing in the pool until about 10 at night but not obnoxiously loud. I did not have problems with people being loud or obnoxious walking on the sidewalk outside of the room. the only thing that was really loud was the movie by the pool at night. It could get a bit loud at times. me and my DD are not bothered by background noises and had no trouble going to sleep despite the pool noise/movies and we go to bed early...around 9ish. But so many people get so nervous about the noise they second guess their room choice. Not too bad in my opinion.

I did walk to the little mermaid rooms to see them. I originally had booked them but changed when i heard concerns about walking from the rooms to the busses. I'm glad I changed to POP. my DD and I are not lazy by anymeans but it did seem like quite a walk from the main hall to the LM rooms. I actually think the walk across the bridge to my room at POP was closer than the walk to the AOA food court to the LM rooms... I could be wrong, but it seemed that way!

anyways, no bugs or roaches. no snakes. clean room, clean bathroom with no mildew or mold. no peeling paint, carpet seemed clean. I had no complaints at all. Didn't even hear the toilets from the next room like some people claim.

Oh dear, that food from Pop looked nasty!

 

[WishingMom]

I'm getting a little concerned about pop's food court. We are on the QSDP so we tend to eat one meal here a day. Usually dinner. My kids don't want nachos with potato chips. They want a real burger bun with there burger not fish bread.

I'm seriously thinking we may upgrade to a moderate at this point. DH won't stay at the all stars.

At least the option is there to hop on over to AoA for something to eat!

 

[cab0ad]

I am also concerned about breakfast at POP. When I eat sausage and bacon, I want it from pigs, not birds.

they had regular bacon and turkey bacon. I eat turkey bacon at home so either was fine with me, but they always gave me regular by default. never asked me if I wanted turkey bacon. and I ordered kids meals for breakfast all the time and I think those are the meals that were supposed to get turkey bacon. don't worry...real bacon still thrives there!

 

[KELLY]

At least the option is there to hop on over to AoA for something to eat!

We ate there once last trip and I didn't like it. I like fries but the seasoning they use sent me into a sneezing fit. The meal I had was just bland tasting. We can always head to DTD for a few meals.

 

[cab0ad]

At least the option is there to hop on over to AoA for something to eat!

AOA had the wierd fish bread too...I wonder if all resorts have the fish bread to make some sort of nutritional goal?? but wheat buns wouldn't be any worse than the fish bread I'd think. not sure. I did see a family get the sloppy joe meal for their kids and it came on a regular bun. maybe they asked for a regular bun. don't know. they were in the cashier line.

I am not a fan of disney's homemade chips in the first place. too greasy and burnt tasting all the time. but to use those as the base of nachos? wierd and gross...

 

[cab0ad]

Thanks for the food review! My oldest is a mac and cheese fan so I can relate. lol Did you calculate how much you saved or didn't save?

I have not calculated it yet. It is on my list of things to do though and I'll report back when I do!

 

[cab0ad]

Oh dear, that food from Pop looked nasty!

most of it was... AOA! AOA!

 

[jcarwash]

I did walk to the little mermaid rooms to see them. I originally had booked them but changed when i heard concerns about walking from the rooms to the busses. I'm glad I changed to POP. my DD and I are not lazy by anymeans but it did seem like quite a walk from the main hall to the LM rooms. I actually think the walk across the bridge to my room at POP was closer than the walk to the AOA food court to the LM rooms... I could be wrong, but it seemed that way!

You're basically right! The distance is pretty much equal!

I used a measurement feature on Google maps and the distance between the center of the LM section and Animation Hall, and the distance between the center of the 60's buildings and Animation Hall, is actually about the same. They are both around .23 to .24 of a mile.

 

[roannamb]

We are planning to bring some bagels for breakfasts. We will be on the regular dining plan and would like to use our counter meals in the park.

I was hoping someone here would know if they sell cream cheese in the food court or convenience area of the shop? Or, if we're really lucky, do they have some single serve packs in the condiment station?

 

[jcarwash]

We are planning to bring some bagels for breakfasts. We will be on the regular dining plan and would like to use our counter meals in the park.

I was hoping someone here would know if they sell cream cheese in the food court or convenience area of the shop? Or, if we're really lucky, do they have some single serve packs in the condiment station?

Yes, there are little condiment-sized packs of cream cheese and peanut butter available for sale in the cooler case area. Neither are provided for free in the condiment stations.

We bring bagels too and we like pb&j on them, so we pack a jar of peanut butter (travels well) and there are jam/jelly packs you can get in the condiment stations.

 

[jcarwash]

AOA had the wierd fish bread too...

I think the "fish bread" must be Pepperidge Farm Goldfish brand bread? I think it's intended for kids.

 

[roannamb]

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[Blessedwithboys]

I am kind of glad we did not even really use the food court last trip. So I know I can survive without it. We did eat a meal at our resort (AOA) food court on departure day and it was our worst CS meal of the trip. I only use the food court for our refillable mugs and to grab a smoothie or whatnot!! We like to eat at the parks

I am glad to hear that most stays were good despite the bad food court. How has busing been??

 

[stitchlovestink]

I am also concerned about breakfast at POP. When I eat sausage and bacon, I want it from pigs, not birds.

Okay, this actually made me LOL!! Bacon & sausage from birds?! What did I miss in this thread??
I just added the DDP but we don't pay for it until check in, maybe I should reconsider and take it back off when I check in!!
Please tell me they haven't messed with the wafffle mix!!!